Posted
by
timothyon Saturday April 28, 2012 @02:30AM
from the whole-new-line-dance-in-the-making dept.

LilaG writes "To develop new materials for robotics, scientists have developed graphene-based actuators that convert electricity into motion. In robots, actuators act like muscles, driving the movement of mechanical arms and fins. Most actuator materials, such as ceramics and conductive polymers, respond slowly, require a lot of power, or provide very little force. To make speedy, strong actuators, Chinese researchers coated graphene paper with the polymer polydiacetylene. Graphene provides a highly conductive, flexible backing for the fragile polymer crystals, which deform in response to electrical current. The actuators can bend 200 times per second and generate more force than most current materials. Using a sheet of the material, the scientists built a simple inchworm robot that arches and relaxes to crawl forward."

Since it's a journal article, they can try going to their local university library where they may be able to access it for free. It's not an option for everyone, but people who are interested and have a university library that offers free access to (e)journals should learn to get off their lazy asses to fulfill those interests.

... of robotics and artificial limbs/hearts. No more of this servo/gear nonsense that creates slow, jerky movement. The future is artificial muscle, connected to artificial joints by artificial tendons. We are the templates of the future.

Why Chinese? Isn't it strange how AFRICANS never actually contribute anything to the world, yet most of the idiots on Slashdot will lie and say that they actually LIKE having millions of them in their previously all white countries...